Pennsylvania judge is suspended after 'repeatedly calling a black female juror 'Aunt Jemima'

[Demovictory9]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/pennsylvania-judge-is-suspended-after-repeatedly-calling-a-black-female-juror-aunt-jemima-while-talking-to-lawyers-as-bar-association-calls-for-state-conduct-investigation/ar-BBZLfhZ?ocid=st2

A Pennsylvania judge accused of making racist comments about a juror was barred from hearing any cases, according to a court order issued Thursday.

Judge Mark Tranquilli was suspended after being accused of referring to a black female juror as 'Aunt Jemima' repeatedly in comments he made in his chambers following the acquittal of a drug suspect on Jan. 24.

Tranquilli was temporarily reassigned to summary appeals on Tuesday following an interview of the judge by court administration staff. He will be forbidden from hearing any case and will be restricted to 'administrative duties only, effective immediately.'

'Judge Tranquilli shall not preside over any cases during this assigment,' a court order states.

The judge allegedly made the comments in his chambers in the presence of the prosecutor, Ted Dutkowski, and the defense attorney, Joe Otte.

He is said to have been upset that a suspect was found not guilty, adding that Dutkowski should have done a better job at vetting jurors.

Tranquilli did not responded to requests for comment this week.

Aunt Jemima has racist origins as it comes from a vaudeville era song 'Old Aunt Jemima.' The character was based off the mammie - a black woman who worked for white families, nursing their children. It is now commonly associated with syrup and pancake mix.

Lori McMaster, president of the Allegheny County Bar Association, released a statement saying that an investigation would be launched into Tranquilli's comments.

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They also questioned if Tranquilli had a longer history with racist tendencies.

'We understand too that Judge Tranquilli had earned a reputation for being 'tough on crime and defendants,'" they said. 'We can't help but wonder if his "toughness" was in actuality a series of racially based rulings, which may have led to some African Americans being sentenced inappropriately and unfairly, and possibly negatively affecting their lives, maybe in some cases for a number of years!'

[safeinOhio]

1. Time to retire and

spend some time with family.

[dalton99a]

2. Racist POS has no business being a judge

He also had an anger management problem in his last job:

An internal inquiry by the Allegheny County district attorney's office has determined that a deputy DA violated the courtroom code of civility during a May 6 argument with a public defender.

Deputy District Attorney Mark Tranquilli plans to write a letter of apology to District Judge Rob Wyda, who was on the bench when Tranquilli and Assistant Public Defender James Sheets launched into an angry back-and-forth during a preliminary hearing for a homicide suspect.

Tranquilli and Sheets were arguing before Wyda about whether the suspect should be granted bond when Tranquilli asked the defense attorney if he needed time to "sober up."

Sheets shot back with profanities and told Tranquilli he would beat him up, all while family and friends of the homicide victim and suspect watched.

[Ohiogal]

3. Trump will probably

give him a Medal of Freedom.

[dem4decades]

4. Trump will put him on the Federal bench.

[Demovictory9]

6. this

[CurtEastPoint]

5. Republican, of course.

[Greybnk48]

7. I hope they thoroughly review all of his past cases,

which it sounds like they're doing, and alter sentences if need be! That's how it sounds to me, I hope that's true.